Embedded Counsellor - Faculty of Science

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Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
Provides services and programming to the UBC Faculty of Science to support students' mental wellbeing and help them succeed in their program. Offers consultation to faculty and staff including response to crises. Provides single session/short term counselling, triage and referral to stepped care including Counselling Services, Student Health Service, external resources and emergency services as appropriate. Promotes mental wellbeing for students at in the Faculty of Science through the development and delivery of wellness programming.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Director, Counselling Services, Student Health and Wellbeing, for oversight of clinical work. Reports to the Assistant Dean, Student Academic Services, Faculty of Science for operational matters, and for direction of non-clinical work with respect to student wellbeing. Works collaboratively with the Faculty of Science student services team as well as the team of professionals within UBC Student Health and Wellbeing, actively participating in and contributing to the development and delivery of effective mental wellbeing programs and services. Also works in collaboration with other UBC student services and community resources.

Work Performed

• Works closely with Health Promotion and Education as well as faculty student services professionals to develop and deliver mental wellbeing programming for Faculty of Science students throughout their time in the Faculty of Science including orientations, outreach programs, workshops, seminars, groups and other resources that helps students normalize stress, understand how to manage stress and maintain mental wellbeing, and how to seek support when needed. Also supports UBC student societies in their wellbeing events.

• Considers and supports culturally appropriate wellbeing programming for all students as well as mental health programming to meet the unique needs of specific student populations.

• Conducts assessment to clarify students' mental health needs and to inform wellness planning and treatment.

• Works within an integrated, collaborative stepped care system of mental health support, providing referral for registered UBC students to resources on and off campus as needed including self-directed online resources, peer support, coaching, group programs, individual counselling, medical care and crisis intervention.

• Provides single session and brief counselling by phone, video and in person to support students in the Faculty of Science who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

• Builds and maintains a network of UBC and external resources specific to needs of students in the Faculty of Science

• Provides consultation and support to staff, faculty and student peer leaders on student mental health concerns including crises.

• Develops and delivers orientations, presentations and training on how to support students' mental wellbeing for faculty and staff. May assume the Wellbeing Liaison role,

• Participates in meetings with Faculty of Science student services professionals as well as Counselling Services case management and administrative meetings.

• Facilitates, in connection with UBC Counselling Services as appropriate, the operation of counselling programs within the faculty (e.g. group counselling,etc.).

• Prepares reports, publications and other documents as required, and may be asked to sit on and participate on committees and working groups in the Faculty of Science.

• Works closely with communications professionals to develop content for and promote wellbeing programming for _Faculty of Science students. Responsible for ensuring student wellbeing web resources are up to date and accurate.

• May provide group supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Must be able to act with a considerable degree of autonomy and independence in the provision of mental health support to students while adhering to the ethical standards of the profession. Poor professional judgment or unethical practice would be extremely detrimental to student wellbeing and in some cases could be life threatening. It would also have a significant negative impact on public relations and the reputation of the Faculty of Science, the University and in some cases result in legal liability for the University.

Supervision Received
Acts independently within established clinical and ethical guidelines. Works within a model of collegial consultation and collaboration, under the direction of the Director of Counselling Services and under the direction of the Assistant Dean, Student Academic Services, Faculty of Science.

Supervision Given
May provide supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments. May delegate administrative work to program assistants.

Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree in Counselling Psychology or a related field. Eligible for professional certification in British Columbia. Minimum of five years of experience in clinical counselling plus experience supervising Master's level practicum students.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- Eligible for registration as a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Social Worker in British Columbia or as a Canadian Certified Counsellor

-University or college counselling experience an asset

-Training and experience in single session, triage, stepped care and brief therapy preferred

- Commitment to serving the needs of a broadly diverse student population

-Demonstrated ability to provide services that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of specific student populations including aboriginal students, international students, graduate students, racialized students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ+ students

-Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and experience in program development, consultation and outreach

-Strong interest in and commitment to effective problem solving and continuous improvement of programs and services

-Possession of personal attributes that facilitate teamwork and the development of effective working relationships with a wide range of students, faculty, and staff

-Appropriate course-work and training in mental health assessment, individual and group counselling; program evaluation, adolescent and adult development; learning theory; career development, cross-cultural counselling and diversity, personality theory and diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology

-Knowledge of the unique issues facing university students and university life

-Expertise and experience in treatment of a wide range of concerns that post-secondary and professional program students may experience including stress, depression, anxiety, substance use, relationship difficulties, eating/body image issues, career/life planning, transition issues and sexual violence